It’s that time of year when New Year resolutions are charted out. A list of to-do things is made and with the passage of time they are conveniently forgotten. Striking off places from your bucket-list is one of the most popular New Year resolutions (after losing weight, of course!)
So, here’s a list or bucket-list of festivals across the world that you must attend in the year 2015. Make sure you don’t default on this list as every festival is worth a visit!
1. January - Dubai Shopping Festival 2015
Where: Dubai, UAE
When: January 1, 2015 – February 1, 2015
Why: Because kick-starting the New Year with shopping karma is really a good idea!
This annual festival is a month long expo held every year in Dubai, UAE. With brands giving outrageous discounts of up to 75% and celebrity pop-up stores flanking all around, Dubai Shopping Festival 2015 is the place to be to bring in the New Year bash. Check out our Dubai tour packages with a complimentary entrance ticket to the Global Village and plan a shopaholic Dubai holiday now.
What’s more? Muscat Festival is also held around the same time in January and February. You can cover both the events with our Mesmerising Oman with Dubai Shopping Festival package.
2. February – Abu Simbel Sun Festival 2015
Where: Abu Simbel temple complex, Nubia, Egypt
When: Before sunrise on February 22, 2015
Why: Because only twice a year the sun rays fall directly on the main sanctum illuminating the colossus of Pharoah Ramses II and the sun gods, Re-Horakhte, Amon-Re.
This phenomenon occurs once on Ramses II’s coronation day (February 22) and his birthday (October 22). What will astound you is the depth of research that went into building such masterpiece thousands of years ago with help of no technology!
3. March – Cricket World Cup Finals 2015
Where: Australia & New Zealand
When: From February 13 till March 29, 2015
Why: Because it is the most awaited and most epoch-making event in the history of cricket when millions of cricket fans swarm the cricket stadiums!
Cricket World Cup 2015 (CWC 2015) is scheduled from February 14, 2015 to March 29, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. For over a month, 14 teams will compete against each other to win the most coveted trophy in the history of cricket. Be a part of excitement, anxiousness and epiphany as the strongest 2 teams battle it out to embed their names and create history on March 29, 2015 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
4. April – Songkran 2015
Where: Everywhere and anywhere in Thailand, but Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket are hunky-dory!
When: April 13, 2015 – April 15, 2015
Why: Because the Thai way of welcoming the New Year is by indulging in a traditional custom of rain dance!
Propped up with water guns, hoses and buckets, locals parade the streets and drench themselves in the festivities to beckon the Chinese New Year. Quite reminiscent of Holi, isn’t it? Voila! Minus the colours and creepy lechers! Check out our Thailand tour packages to ring in the Thailand New Year celebration.
5. May – Great Singapore Sale 2015
Where: Orchard Road, Marina Bay, Bugis, Little India, Chinatown, Southern Waterfront and many other shopping areas; Singapore
When: May 2015 – July 2015
Why: Because shopping is, was and will be the world’s greatest pleasure!
The Great Singapore Sale 2015 is a concoction of fashion, lifestyle, beauty and wellness. Opulent brands hit a rock-bottom low at several shopping centres all across Singapore. Choose from our range of Singapore tour packages for a mix of shopping and sightseeing experience!
6. June – Bali Arts Festival 2015
Where: Bali Art Centre, Denpasar, Indonesia
When: June 2015 – July 2015
Why: Because the symphony of traditional and evolved modern art was never so beautiful!
This is the time when entire Bali comes to life with its colossal performances of music, dance and culture. Balinese are clad in heavy outlandish outfits fabled to tell the fate of mythology.
7. July – Melaka UNESCO World Heritage City Celebration
Where: Malacca, Malaysia
When: July 7, 2015
Why: Because it is the 7th anniversary of Malacca or Melaka as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What happens when a host of cultural activities takes place in a city that holds a history of more than 6 centuries? It gives birth to the most history defying event by recreating glimpses from the Malay sultanate and the colonial Portuguese and Dutch era.
8. August – Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
When: August 2, 2015 – August 7, 2015
Why: Because it is all about long neon floats called ‘nebuta’, fireworks, traditional dance bundled with history!
More than 20 nebutas are wheeled out of the city and dancers perform a traditional dance called ‘haneto’ chanting ‘rassera rassera’. It is believed that the chant supposedly shakes out the laziness and sleepiness of summer night.
9. September – Hoi An Full Moon Festival
Where: Hoi An, Vietnam
When: September 26, 2015
Why: Because no other UNESCO World Heritage Site in the whole wide world celebrating a Lantern Festival on every full moon night!
Vehicles and electric lights turned off. Wow! Impressive, isn’t it? Only lanterns glisten this beautiful historical town giving you an insight into how it would have been 4 centuries from now, when living was such a simple and easy affair. Perfect night for romantic couples, very Bollywood like – lantern lit streets, tunes of flutes and drums filling up the air, all under the twilight!
Where: Bacolod, Philippines
When: October 16, 2015 – October 18, 2015
Why: Because a Filipino carnival is a fun carnival!
A kaleidoscope of colors and resilient Filipino spirit sets the street ablaze with thousands of smiling faces. A wacky masquerade party, MassKara - mass (people) and kara (face in Spanish), truly resonate its name.
11. November – Perang Topat
Where: Lombok, Indonesia
When: November 18, 2015
Why: Because Hindus and Muslims can celebrate and have fun together!
Perang (war) Topat (rice cake) is an insanely fun rice war between the Hindus and Muslims in Indonesia displaying their unity. The two communities thank god for the abundance of crops in the only Hindu temple (known as Pura Lingsar) housing a Muslim shrine.
12. Melvana Festival
Where: Konya, Turkey
When: December 17, 2015 (Grand Event)
Why: Because the dance of Whirling Dervishes is regarded as the ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ by UNESCO.
This festival is celebrated in memory of the great Sufi poet and preacher Rumi on his day of death, known as the ‘wedding night’ for his unification with ‘Allah’. Watch the Whirling Dervishes clad in white robes spinning elegantly in remembrance of god.
Author : Winnie Karnik